What to expect for Remembrance Day during a pandemic
Remembrance Day will look different this year since COVID-19 is still an ongoing issue.
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 04 in Fredericton is working towards a safe way to remember our troops.
COVID-19 has limited them to a short 20-minute service at the downtown provincial cenotaph.
“With COVID on right now we have to downsize,” said Don Swain, president of the branch 04 legion. “We can’t control the amount of people that show up, but if they wear their mask and social distance, I can’t see a problem.”
There will be no legionnaire parade, army parade, or cadets this year. The service will consist of buglers, pipers, gun salutes and two-minutes of silence. Swain will read the names of the dignitaries who placed their wreaths as well as the veterans who have passed.
The wreaths will be placed at the cenotaph the day before Remembrance Day.
Despite losing these traditions this year, Swain says it’s important to remember.
“So, it’s going to be completely downsized but we got to honour and respect our fallen heroes and it’s actually the 75thanniversary of the end of the second world war so that’s another milestone that we have to be proud of.”
The legion will hold a ceremony broadcast on Rogers TV at 11 a.m.
The legion has had a short season due to COVID, they shut down at the beginning of March and re-opened at the beginning of July. Opening back up after COVID has limited them to events they would normally offer at the legion, such as bingo and dances. “We are just trying to keep our heads above water,” said Swain. A lot of their members are elders and they are not coming to the branch due to the ongoing pandemic.
The service and lack of attendance are not the only changes that the legion had this year because of the pandemic. The annual poppy campaign is unable to raise funds in public as the legion is following public health guidelines.
Usually, roots, the people who distribute the poppies, would go to stores with poppy boxes where you can place a donation or pick up a poppy, wreaths, and other things like pins and bracelets.
This year they had to set up at the legion where people could stop by throughout the week to place a donation, pick up a poppy, or purchase a mask, bracelet, pin and other items.
Bob Griffin is the poppy chairman of branch 04. He said it is important to take any time out of the day to remember.
“A poppy is something we want everyone in the world to wear, said Griffin, “Just to remember.”
Griffin’s father was a poppy chairman at a legion in Ontario for over 25 years, this inspired Griffin to take the position here in Fredericton three years ago.
All the money from the poppy campaign goes towards veterans in financial distress. “It doesn’t make a difference if it’s a penny, nickel or a dime,” said Griffin. “It all adds up.”
The legion is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We have had quite a few people come in,” said Griffin. “We had an ad in the paper, we put posters up in the regent mall and other places which tells people what we are doing this year.”
Despite not being able to fundraise in public, some places still accepted poppy coin boxes.
Griffin is happy to be back at the legion, especially in time for Remembrance Day.
“It keeps me motivated, I went from one hundred and sixty miles an hour to zero when we closed, it’s nice to go where everyone knows your name.”
